--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/GeckoApp.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/GeckoApp.java
@@ -1694,17 +1694,17 @@ public abstract class GeckoApp extends G
      */
     protected void loadStartupTab(final int flags, String action) {
         if (!mShouldRestore || Intent.ACTION_VIEW.equals(action)) {
             if (mLastSessionCrashed) {
                 // The Recent Tabs panel no longer exists, but BrowserApp will redirect us
                 // to the Recent Tabs folder of the Combined History panel.
                 Tabs.getInstance().loadUrl(AboutPages.getURLForBuiltinPanelType(PanelType.DEPRECATED_RECENT_TABS), flags);
             } else {
-                Tabs.getInstance().loadUrl(Tabs.getHomepageForStartupTab(this), flags);
+                Tabs.getInstance().loadUrl(Tabs.getHomepageForNewTab(this), flags);
             }
         }
     }
 
     /**
      * Loads the initial tab at Fennec startup. This tab will load with the given
      * external URL. If that URL is invalid, a startup tab will be loaded.
      *

--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/Tabs.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/Tabs.java
@@ -1295,17 +1295,17 @@ public class Tabs implements BundleEvent
     /**
      * Note: For opening a new tab while respecting the user's preferences, just use
      *       {@link Tabs#addTab()} instead.
      *
      * @return The user's homepage (falling back to about:home) if PREFS_HOMEPAGE_FOR_EVERY_NEW_TAB
      *         is enabled, or else about:home.
      */
     @NonNull
-    private static String getHomepageForNewTab(Context context) {
+    public static String getHomepageForNewTab(Context context) {
         final SharedPreferences preferences = GeckoSharedPrefs.forApp(context);
         final boolean forEveryNewTab = preferences.getBoolean(GeckoPreferences.PREFS_HOMEPAGE_FOR_EVERY_NEW_TAB, false);
 
         return forEveryNewTab ? getHomepageForStartupTab(context) : AboutPages.HOME;
     }
 
     /**
      * @return The user's homepage, or about:home if none is set.